Thelittlestkiwi

Long time reader...first time poster...

Having just come back from a great 3 week holiday in Italy, France and UK, I really want to start thinking about my next trip.....I love the planning phase!

The thing is, I've normally waited until I have someone to travel with before I commit to going somewhere. This is even though I will usually have some aspect of a trip when I'm traveling solo - just because I know that I will want the time out to do my own thing rather than having to compromise all the time. Now, I've realised that waiting for a travel companion can mean a long time between holidays. So, the obvious thing would be to just go ahead, bite the bullet, and do it alone, but I still feeling a bit ho-hum about organising an entire trip solo. I guess I think solo = alone = lonely.

Big, organised tour groups don't really interest me at this point, as I crave flexibility and independence more than I want social interaction that I group would guarantee.

So...the reason for the post is that I have decided that there is middle ground!

If I pick a destination, and then organise day trips or short group tours (probably activity based, and not longer than a week), then I will have the best of both worlds! But, I'm struggling to find a good resource for day trips, or short group tours that are not aimed at the luxury market. Help!

Ideally I'd like to return to Rome and explore southern Italy. To give you an idea of my interests, I've looked into language schools, bike tours, food tours and cooking classes...but I still seem to be short on options. If it may influence how you respond, I'm late 30s, female and am not trying to find myself 'eating, praying, loving', I'm just wandering, grazing and hanging out.

Are you similar to me? Do you have any recommendations of day tours, or group activities, or short group tours that you've done that you would recommend? As a guide the budget would be 80E for a day activity and up to 150E per day if it was a group tour that included accommodation and maybe some food.

Hoping to hear your thoughts...

Thelittlestkiwi

Just thought I'd add....if there's another part of Europe that would fit the bill, I'm open to relocating to another country/region/city. Anywhere in Europe is a long way from NZ, so at this planning stage I'm ready to have my eyes opened!

Finecheapboxofwine

I think I've read of some people recommending the Thorntree travel forum run by Lonely Planet which might be geared toward single travelers, budget etc. You might find some advice of interest there!

taconictraveler

There are many ways to join activities when you travel.

I was traveling alone in Paris, took a one-day bus tour to versailles, and happened to meet a couple from Canada, who invited me t o join them for lunch. I really appreciated spending time with them, as It took away any loneliness I was feeling.

I also find if you attach yourself to some group in Rome (or Paris, or Zurich, or wherever) you can spend some days in the company of others.

Your idea of cooking classes would be a great option. I spent two weeks in Kusnacht, a suburb of Zurich, studying the work og Carl Jung. In itself this training was with people from many nations and was exceptionally rewarding. So, if I were you I wouldn't hesitate to sign up for a training or classes in all sorts of things, whatever interests you.

And now, if I were traveling alone, i would seek out a Jung Society in any European city, and I know I'd find like minds and probably meetings and lectures I could attend. That is just an example for you to think about even more things that interest you.

How about things related to your work? There are seminars all over the world. You mentioned language courses, which would also be great.

I once researched a possible thesis about women lawyers' training, and met other lawyers in Paris and Geneva, even got to attend a criminal trial there. Fascinating! So job related connections are usually well received by colleagues in Europe. You could come home more educated, having met a lot of non-tourists!

Good luck in your search. In Rome, I'd want to take an art course! Or an Ancient History course. The Internet has created so much access,

Thelittlestkiwi

Thanks Fine. I'll take another look at the Thorn Tree. To be honest, I've found a little sneery about group tours, and geared towards the backpacker/budget traveler, and was hoping that Fodors may give another perspective.

I'm not in the luxury travel market (yet!), but I'm also past hostels and pub crawls! I guess many in my demographic are looking for family resorts and couple weekend breaks - but I can't be the only person out there who has grown up past backpacking but isn't ready to join a cruise...?!

amy_torres_sd

This trip report from last year piqued my interest: http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...chool-rome.cfm

Essentially, the author found something similar to the following Groupon offer: http://www.groupon.com/deals/ga-epitourean-italy-1

For me... this would be perfect, with or without a travel partner. Great way to spend a week in Italy, in my opinion. I'll be keeping my eyes open for that Groupon next year!

BowenLinda

These small group tours happen to be women-only but are more expensive than what you want to spend - thought I would share them for future travelling:

http://www.sightsandsoul.com/

http://www.industravels.ca/wow-tours.html

kwren

I wrote the post about the culinary trip in Abruzzo and am going back in September because it was so wonderful. I friend of mine and her husband were there this past week and she wrote to me to say it was even better than she had imagined from talking to me. (She had booked the same week as us in September, but couldn't get off work so ended up going this week.) There were some single women there my week and they had a blast and didn't feel out of place at all. Anyway, I'm really writing to tell you to feel free to ask me questions if this appeals to you.

We're going on a truffle hunt and taking a short mosaics class this year in addition to the cooking! I can't wait.

kwren

Just noticed your budget - the Abruzzo tour is probably out of your budget (?) depending on what you were going to include in that 150 Euros/day.

It's $1995 (I think that's about 1500 Euros, but someone feel free to correct that number) for the Sunday - Saturday, but that includes everything...transportation to and from Rome, ALL meals, all excursions, all classes, wine. We didn't need to pay for anything extra, unless we wanted to buy some special gourmet food items he sold at the end of the week. I loved the truffle salt!

stevewith

When you say:

" I've looked into language schools, bike tours, food tours and cooking classes...but I still seem to be short on options" -- it sounds like none of these appeal to you. They wouldn't appeal to me either as a solo traveler.

I think any kind of pre-organized activity tour is going to be expensive, because you need to pay the salary and expenses of whomever is leading it and booking everything for you, or instructing you.

If your main aim in traveling in Italy is "wandering, grazing and hanging out," you can't count on finding a group of people who wants to do that in the same way you do every day, on the ground. That is a solo activity, or one for couples or sisters or brothers or lifelong friends. Most larger groups of travelers, even families, have a very hard time picking what everybody wants to do each day, which is one reason people join organized activity tours, to settle that question.

Maybe instead of looking for a group tour, you should plan your own solo trip, pick your own destinations and daily itinerary -- but research ahead of time things like wine tastings, 1-day walking tours, 1-day cooking classes or photography classes or whatever hobby you might have. If you ordinarily do something at home with your leisure time like biking or serving meals at a charity, look at ways to do that abroad with others.

If you start to feel lonely, you can gravitate toward those things. In preparation for your trip, join a message board like Life In Italy or Slow Travel where people tend to form bonds and friendships, and then "meet-up" when they travel to Rome, etc.

But maybe you never will feel lonely. Or maybe while you are wandering and grazing you'll meet people doing the same, and you can hang out together for a while.

stevewith

For instance, here is a wine tasting place in Rome for 50 euros per person. Does that fit your budget? You can also find walking tours in that price range. But there are also "societies" of English speakers in Rome that hold free events.

If you learn Italian, your options increase dramatically.

stevewith

Here's the link:

http://www.vinoroma.com/?p=19

stevewith

http://www.awar.org/

http://rome.angloinfo.com/af/245/rom...ociations.html

sapphire_hawk

As a frequent solo traveller and also not interested in luxury travel, the best suggestion I could give is be brave and speak to people, make conversations, ask if you can join their table you'll be surprised at how friendly people can be especially is staying in a hotel (whatever budget) and your on your own. Also look out for local deals on excursions in the area (not run by a multinational operator, depending on the country a lot you only have to take the ride there and the ride back without the hassle of a public transport system. The hotel/B&B you choose will generally have a list and it's a good way of meeting people with similar interests.

I find keeping a cheap wedding ring in my purse is helpful you can pick one up for less than £5.00 and can get you out of awkward situations if someone is being a little too pushy or simply that you just don't want to be bothered.

Travelling solo is one of the best things i've done, i've made many friends and don't have to consider anyone else's needs which is a lot less stressful.

Ackislander

The local tourist offices in many places offer one day or half day tours of sites in the area for reasonable prices. Sometimes they are in English, sometimes not, but they are usually small groups and offer an opportunity to be with people with similar interests with whom one might engage without having to.

My son and his wife spent their honeymoon in Aix en Provence, touring the surrounding areas on minibus tours like this. Never more than ten people, most of the tours in English, though he is a fluent speaker of French.

Do you have a special interest like gardens or antique motor coaches or bobbin lace? There are multitudes of hobby groups for things like that who may sponsor excursions. Certainly organizations in the UK are famous for "Days Out"'. We recently went on a private tour at Goodwood House with a group from a local historical society. You may no be a member, but you can inquire or the people at the tourist office may be able to make a connection for you since you are from abroad.

In the US, visiting a hobby shop may result in invitations to the homes of local hobbyists since the shop owners can at least vouch for the fact that you are not a raging loony.

bilboburgler

language schools, bike tours, food tours and cooking classes

well there are pottery, watercolour and cloth based courses through out europe in the summer and especially in the southern parts when is is more laid back

Bokhara2

Have a look at Untours & Slow Travel. Whilst not exactly what you're after, you might glean some ideas.

I like to travel solo too, meeting friends & doing one day trips or activities here & there. Often, I find something interesting at the local Tourist Information Office.